The deadline was set at the latest tripartite meeting in Berlin on May 26 when a compromise had been reached to settle Ukraine’s debt for Russian gas

MOSCOW, May 30. /ITAR-TASS/. Three-party gas talks within the Russia-Ukraine-EU format have coincided with the deadline for repayment by Ukraine’s Naftogaz of $2 billion of debt for the supplied Russian gas.

The deadline was set at the latest tripartite meeting in Berlin on May 26 when a compromise had been reached to settle Ukraine’s debt for Russian gas. The deadline expired on Friday, May 30.

From June 1 Ukraine’s debt will exceed $5 billion.

It is supposed that before the end of the week Naftogaz will transfer $2 billion to Russia’s Gazprom, thereby partially repaying the debt for the already supplied gas and, not later than on June 7, remit another $500 million as an advance payment for June deliveries.

Earlier Gazprom had insisted Naftogaz pay off the debt on the amount of almost $2.3 billion.

If Ukraine violates the payment scheme, approved at the latest Berlin meeting, Gazprom will stop gas supplies to Ukraine from June 3.

In case of an unsanctioned off-take of gas by Ukraine, Russia intends to introduce “an early warning” mechanism for creating a group of specialists who will monitor and record the amounts of gas supplies to Ukraine.

Naftogaz of Ukraine has money to pay debts (about $2 billion) after the company augmented its capital by issuing additional shares with the state ownership of 100% of shares preserved.

At the Berlin talks, Russia will be represented by Energy Minister Alexander Novak. Ukraine’s delegation will be led by acting Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuriy Prodan. European Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger will represent the EU.